Salt & Straw has some of the most unexpected ice cream flavors you’ll find in Seattle, and that’s part of what makes them so special (the other part being, obviously, the deliciousness). Go out on a wing and try the Arbequina Olive Oil, Pear & Blue Cheese, or Honey Lavender next time you’re at either of their two locations in the city. And remember: don’t knock it ‘till you try it.

Opened a few years ago by a UW-grad who also got a food sciences degree from Penn, this small-batch creamery headquartered on The Ave makes their Sweet Cream base daily using organic ingredients, almost all of which are sourced within 100 miles of our storefront. Said base is then turned into a range of creative, or just creatively named, ice creams, including Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Earl Grey, Birthday Cake, and a version of cookie dough they're calling Dough or Die.

F&J serves up about a dozen flavors of plant-based, gluten-free ice cream, like the deep black colored Salty Caramel Ash, and something called Gingered Golden Milk that is, well, golden. They also have more traditional options including Mint Brownie... and that's pretty much it. But who wants traditional?

The Ballard location of this plant-based, gluten-free ice cream shop.

The Capitol Hill location of this plant-based, gluten-free ice cream shop.

This classic Seattle sweets purveyor has been around for 20 years, but their recipes are still all hand developed by their founder and then crafted daily in small batches, with ingredients like organic milk and seasonal fruits. In addition to pints you can also find cakes, cookies and other pastries at their shop on Third Avenue.

This oh-so-artisanal "Microcreamy" serves the usual coffee/frozen dairy desserts in creative flavors that rotate quarterly, but since 2014 -- when they were inspired by a beer-flavored ice cream created in collaboration with their Capitol Hill neighbor, Elysian Brewing -- Bluebird has also been brewing its own beer and craft sodas (often in dessert appropriate flavors) and serving them in their shop.

Started in White Center in 2008, FT's four locations are worth checking out for the old-school video game/pinball machines lining the walls, as well as the solid selection of Northwest beers on tap, and the eclectic collection of tunes bumping in the background. But then, there is the ice cream: Rich, creamy stuff that’s still light enough to make you eat more than you should, and is available in an array of sometimes-too-creative flavors ranging from Mint Chop to Coffee Oreo.

MM's eight, almost invariably tiny, ice creameries are charming. And who can blame people for lining up to shove a scoop of handmade 'Scout' Mint ice cream made with real Girl Scout Cookies (one of the few ingredients not produced locally), or Melted Chocolate flavored with bars bought from Theo, or local Strawberry sorbet in their faces?

MM's Capitol Hill location, where you'll find signature flavors like handmade 'Scout' Mint ice cream made with real Girl Scout Cookies.